Year 3, Day 51: Titus 1

Historical Background

Titus was a letter written by Paul to one of his disciples, Titus.  Many historians believe that this letter to Titus was written while Titus was on a mission in Crete (See Titus 1:5, 12).  It is important to note that Titus was a Gentile.  It is also important to note that Titus seemed to do really well in ministry and enjoyed a high degree of success wherever he went to proclaim God’s good news.  This letter was written to Titus largely to encourage him as he stood against false teaching that was creeping into the church.

Family

I’ve always snickered at how Paul begins his letters.  It’s almost as if he knew that people would be reading them for centuries after he wrote them.  I snicker because this letter is to Titus.  Titus is one of Paul’s prized disciples.  If Paul had confidence in anyone’s ability to know God, it would be Titus.  Yet, Paul doesn’t miss the opportunity to talk about God’s character.  Paul knows we always need to remember who God is and for what God stands.

Yet as I read this opening, there is something that really makes me lean back in my recliner and appreciate Paul’s writing.  When Paul describes Titus, he uses a really special word.  The word in the Greek language is “gnesios” (γνήσιος).  Many Bibles translate that word as “true” in Titus 1:4.  But I prefer the translation given when the word appears elsewhere in the Bible: “genuine.” (See 2 Corinthians 8:8 or Philipians 2:20).

Here’s what I’m getting at.  Paul calls Titus a genuine child in a common faith.  That right there is about as honest of a statement of the confidence Paul has in the discipleship of Titus.  Titus is a genuine child.  This verse proves one of my favorite thoughts that I’ve discovered in Bible over the last two years: Blood may be thicker than water, but genuine spirituality is thicker than blood.  If you really want to connect with someone, then share a faith with them rather than DNA.

As a pastor, I really love this passage on a deeper level, too.  Part of my calling is to do as Paul does here: make children.  No, I’m not talking in some cultist biological sense.   {That was supposed to be funny, I hope it didn’t offend anyone.}  God has called me to make spiritual children.  God has called me to seek out those who are sensitive to the Holy Spirit and make disciples.  In fact, God has called all of us to do this! 

I love the way Paul describes Titus.  There is such an element of shared spiritual discipleship in such few words.

Presbyteros

The title of this section might look familiar.  No doubt you’ve heard of the denomination “Presbyterian.”  That comes from the Greek word “presbyteros” (πρεσβύτερος).  In English, it means “elder.”  Well, technically it means “a person of authority in socio-religious concerns.”

Titus’ job in Crete was to appoint elders.  But why does the church in Crete need elders?  Why do any of us need elders?

The reason we needed elders is because there are always people who are sowing false teaching.  There are people coming in and disrupting the Christian community.  There are people coming in and teaching that salvation depended on a bunch of things – not just the cross of Christ!  The Cretans needed elders to help guide them, teach them, and mold them.  The Cretans needed elders to help protect them and preserve their growing faith.  We all need elders for that very same reason!

Truth in Fruit

The question becomes: how does one pick an elder?  How does one know whether or not someone else is genuine in their faith?  How does one know whether or not another person really and truly is capable of shepherding another person through life?

Paul tells us how.  You look at their fruit.  Yes, it’s an imperfect science.  Yes, people can snowball you and make you believe that they are someone they really aren’t.  We are all sinners, after all.  But in general, you look at their fruit.  If they are abiding by God’s Word and accomplishing God’s will, they will probably be able to help you do the same.  But if you look at someone who isn’t abiding by God’s Word and accomplishing God’s will, then there is little likelihood that they will be able to be an elder for you, too.

Paul’s closing verse within this chapter is powerful.  Those that we are to watch out for are these: “they profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”  I am reminded of an incredible quote in a similar tone from Brennan Manning.  It goes like this: “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.  That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

Friends, pick elders.  We desperately need elders from God to help guide us in this life.  But even more importantly, pick good elders.  Paul was Titus’ “presbyteros.”  I think Titus picked well. 

Who’s yours? 

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